Love's Reward
(No. 3433)
A SERMON PUBLISHED ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1914.
DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON,
AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him. I
will set him on high because he has known My name." Psalm 91:14.
THAT this Psalm was written by David we see no reason to doubt. In the
previous verses we have the words of the Psalmist himself. Here,
however, there is a change of speaker. The promise is spoken by God,
Himself, in these three closing sentences. Doubtless the words of
Inspired men are very precious as a Divine testimony, but when God,
Himself, directly speaks to us in His own name, what an extraordinary
weight attaches to every syllable He utters! Dear child of God, you who
are a believer in Jesus, can you not think that you hear your God
saying, concerning you, with His own, gracious assuring voice, "Because
he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him"? And notice
that He repeats these words, "I will," four times, as if to give them
the most striking emphasis! Surely this is intended to minister some
comfort and refreshing to the Lord's people. I pray the Holy Spirit,
the Comforter, to give the Word and to apply it.
"Because," says the Most High, "he has set his love upon Me." We must
look at this carefully, for it contains a description of character. If
we can find ourselves classified here, it will be well for us,
otherwise we shall have reason for deep anxiety. Is our love set upon
God? Search your hearts, for the question is very pungent. The original
Hebrew has more force in it than our translation expresses, although I
do not know exactly how to improve upon our version. The idea, however,
is something like this–"To have fallen in love"–as though with all
the tenderness of passion and all the transport of devotion, the
creature yearned for his Creator, and mortal man cherished an intense
affection for the eternal God.
I. THE HEART'S SUPREME LOVE.
"He has set his love upon Me." His love! Such love as draws the
sympathies with its irresistible attraction, as brightens the thoughts
with its fervent glow, as knits the heart with its indissoluble bonds!
Yes, such love as melts the soul with its potent charms. I would have
you think of it, now, as a fact, not as a fiction, or a fancy. That
word, love, is translatable into the many tongues of earth, and so it
passes current among the millions in every age and every clime. But
only hearts attuned can feel it–it finds echo only in the purest
minds. But, to explain it, why, one had need combine a poet's genius
with the emotions of a child, a husband or wife, a parent, a friend,
all earthly relations in one to paint genuine love in living language!
And even then it were all felt, and little, very little, told! Oh, but
this is a high matter, for a man to set his love upon God! His
love–not a cold sentiment, not a languid approbation, not a mild
complacency, not any mere formal respect, but love, burning love,
which, like coals ofjuniper, give forth a vehement flame–"his love set
upon God," like a river that is set upon its course to the sea, its
volume always swelling, its tide becoming more and more rapid.
Answer now, dear Hearer, can you say that you have set your love upon
God? If so, you have been the subject of a great change–a mysterious
transformation–for your heart was naturally at enmity to God, and the
instincts of your mind and the desires of the flesh were alien to Him.
Look back. Compare your present self with your former self and consider
the difference. If you were not, in your unregenerate state, in active
hostility to God, yet you were indifferent towards Him. God was not in
all your thoughts. You could rise at morn and lay down to rest at night
without enquiring after God. You could go forth to your work and labor,
and return to seek your recreation without seeking or acknowledging God
in all your ways. Gladly would you try even to suffer, to die upon the
bed of sickness when called to it, struggling with weakness, confiding
in the physician's skill–without appealing to God your Creator and
your Preserver! This was your natural state, the bent and bias of your
perverse will! And in such waywardness you would have continued to this
hour if the free, rich, undeserved Sovereign efficacious Grace of God
had not interposed! Is your love now set upon God? Then a great change
has passed over you as though a dead man had been quickened into life!
As though the darkness of midnight had been suddenly turned to the
brightness of midday! A great wonder of Grace, a miracle of saving
mercy has been worked in you!
Though you must know to whom it is to be ascribed, let me refresh your
memory, awhile, that I may awaken your gratitude. Comes not this of the
Lord, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working? Depend upon
it, only He who made you, could make you new! Only that Voice which
brought light out of darkness, and order out of chaos, could have
dispelled your vain infatuations or inflamed your soul with love, and
made your known apathy and aversion give place to a sacred ardor and a
devout affection! Surely the Kingdom of God has come near unto you!
Salvation has come to your house! The Lord has looked upon you and
spoken to you! The Eternal Spirit has brooded over your dull faculties
and, as it were, by the breath of God's mouth you have been
regenerated! You are born-again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible–by the Word of God which lives and abides forever.
Therefore you are in Christ, a new creature! Revolve these things in
your soul, this array of lively blessings, that your gratitude may
bloom with joy in God and your praise to the Lord may burst into
melodious song! Do I not speak of a matter which should compel the
tongue of every redeemed man to cry, "Hosanna in the highest"? Were it
marvelous if a thousand voices should utter a loud hallelujah?
Your love to God is no self-sown plant. If you have set your love on
Him, it is because He first set His love on you. What? Did your love go
spontaneously towards God, without any constraint to violate your will?
When He lifted upon you the light of His Countenance, and when you
found favor in His eyes, there were charms, attractions, drawings
conformable to the nature of your mind! There were sweet constraints of
Divine enchantment which enamored you of the beauties of Christ–a
potent spell of Divine persuasion which led you to listen to the voice
of Christ and believe! And now that you have seen and known Him, you
cannot do otherwise than love Him! God has been revealed to you in the
Person and work of His Son, and your heart has been warmed–your
affections have been kindled–your whole soul has been drawn towards
Him! So the Lord observes you, and says, "He has set his love upon Me."
Are you the man of whom God speaks? Then I ask you to avow yourself to
yourself and to your God, now, in the presence of all His people.
"Yes," you can say, "I do love my God. I cannot now live without
thoughts of Him, nor do I wish to do so. And when, for a while, through
pressure of care I do not turn my soul towards God, yet, when the
pressure is removed, my mind comes back to Him, as the dove flies back
to the dovecot, and as the needle trembles back to the pole. Never am I
happier than when my thoughts are with my God, nor is there any thought
so uppermost in my soul as the thought that He loves me and that,
consequently, I desire to live in obedience to His commands, seeking
His honor and endeavoring to promote His Glory." I, hope, Beloved, if
the Lord Jesus were to appeal to you, as He did to His servant, Peter,
you could stand the threefold interrogation "Do you love Me?" And you
would answer with Peter at the last, "You know all things. You know
that I love You." Let this love of yours, then, which you possess, be
in your soul more and more a consuming flame! Let nothing come in to
quench it or to dim its ardor.
Let nothing in your conduct obscure its truthfulness. Suffer no idol to
divide the Throne which God has claimed in your affections. Cry against
the admission of any intruder. Beseech the Lord to stay near to you and
to drive far away every attraction and allurement that would stir up
rivalry in your breast. Be it your own strong resolve, in the power of
His Spirit, that, as you do love Him, you will seek to love Him more
and more and, till your last dying day, it shall be your soul's passion
and master thought that God should be All-in-All enshrined within the
heart as the bosom's Lord. "He has set his love upon Me." I think I
hear some of you say, "Oh, that I couldlove Him! I am half afraid to
say that I do love Him." Yet, perhaps, you are the very persons that,
if brought to the test, would prove to be the truest lovers of your
Savior. But I hear your inward whisper, "Though I do much that might
make me fear and question the sincerity of my love to Him, yet, at
times my soul's emotions get the better of these qualms, for a while,
and speak out their fervor. Yes, my Jesus! I do love You! I do know and
feel that You are my portion. Oh, my God, I do desire to love You more.
I do give myself up to You." You know, Beloved, that it is not always
easy to move the affection of love. It may be in the soul and lie there
quietly. Though I know that I love the Savior, I remember a time when I
was in great doubt whether I had any love to Him, till, as I listened
to a sermon from a good Brother, the Truth he uttered so stirred my
soul that it set the love that had been slumbering in my spirit all in
motion and I perceived that, after all, I did love my Lord and Master,
and had His truth near to my heart! Now, it may be that God will raise
up something in Providence, or something in connection with some fellow
Christian, that will cause your love to flame up and you will say
within yourself, "There it is, afterall! I was afraid it had died." Do
you remember when you first set your love on God? Do you remember the
place where Jesus met with you, where the weight of sin was taken from
you and your transgression, like a thick cloud, was blown away? Ah,
then the Savior was very, very dear to you. You fixed your love on Him.
Do you not remember, since then, many high times and choice occasions
when you have renewed your vow, when your soul has stretched out her
wings towards Jesus, and He has looked towards you, and you towards
Him, and the love of your espousals has been restored? Oh, that it
might be so now! But whether or not there are any flames of affection,
let the coals burn on, and say within your spirit, "Yes, my Savior,
beyond a doubt, I do love You and I cling to You! Better it were that
my heart should cease to pray than cease to love You!"
I am afraid there are some here that neither set their hearts on God
nor care to do so. To them I can only say, God forbid that your present
indifference should be your permanent choice! Your resolve not to love
the God who made you, not to love the Redeemer of men, the Savior of
sinners, the Spirit of Grace–such an obstinate resolution as that will
involve the loss of all the privileges which belong to the lovers of
Christ! And in that day "when the nearer waters roll, when the tempest
rages high," you may regret, when it is too late, that you rejected
that Jesus who, as Lover of our souls, can alone find us a haven from
the storm and protect us from the wrath to come. You know, after all,
that they are happiest who love God the best. I can only pray for you
that His Spirit may teach you wisdom and lead you to renounce your
culpable indifference and your wicked aversion–and draw you into the
fellowship of those who have set their love upon God. Now we must pass
on. Is our love set? Then the next thing we have to notice is–
II. GOD'S LOVE PROVED TO THE LOVING HEART.
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him."
Rightly understood, this savors not of human merit, but of Divine
Mercy. The possession of this love reflects no credit on the creature,
but the production of it redounds to the praise of the Creator. He that
gives Grace for Grace adds here another golden link to the chain of His
own loving kindnesses when He says, "I will deliver him." By what
gentle ways does a mother fondle her baby till the wee child clings to
her? And to no stranger's arms will it go without a scream! The mother
is pleased. She presses the infant to her breast and she says, "You
sweet, affectionate little thing, I will take care of you. Nobody shall
hurt you." Even so, Beloved, "As one whom his mother comforts, so will
I comfort you," says the Lord. There is more than a mother's tenderness
in our heavenly Father's heart! Come, you children of God, take this
gracious Word from your Father's lips, and let your souls be satisfied
with fatness as you feed on it, "I will deliver him." Does it not mean
that He will defend you from all your foes and all your fears? Are you
exposed to ridicule, slander, persecution, tyranny? Or are you teased
and tormented with the fawning looks, the treacherous words, the
cunning devices, the gaudy allurements of those who would beguile you?
Fear not their faces, whether they frown or smile! Cling to your own
Protector, for thus says the Lord, "I will deliver you." Your worst
enemies are evil spirits, able to tempt you in many ways, and to suit
their devices to your weaknesses–fear them not, for even the Prince of
the power of the air, though he comes against you with all his fiery
darts at once, shall not prevail to destroy you, since it is written,
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him." As
you love God, He will certainly deliver you from all the powers of
earth and Hell. It may be that your temporal trials harass you. Are you
poor and friendless, without supplies and without prospects? None know
the stings of poverty but those who endure them. It were foolish to
fret yourselves for the morrow while you have enough for today. Take
heart, you that love the Lord, and cling closer to Him when the peril
seems nearer, for this promise goes before you, "I will deliver him."
Yes, doubtless the dinner is ordered when the cupboard is bare, for is
it not written, "They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the
days of famine they shall be fed"?
Or, perhaps, sickness, has stealthily crept over your mortal frame.
Gradually you have been weakened in body. Why should you tremble
because of the infirmities of your constitution, or the natural decay
that comes with growing years, for you shall be rescued from all the
ill-consequences of depression of spirit and of weakness of the
flesh–"I will deliver him." It may be that bereavement has deprived
your life of its joys. You have been losing friends, one by one.
Already you have borne to the grave some of the nearest and dearest of
your kindred–and others are going. Fear haunts your breast that you
will soon be left alone. What will you do when all help has failed and
all light faded from your dwelling? Why, will you not then have this
promise to fall back upon?–"Because he has set his love upon Me,
therefore will I deliver Him"? There are no straits or struggles, no
cares or crosses, no weary loads or dreary hardships, no privation at
present, or famine in prospect, no pains or perils of any kind out of
which the All-Bounteous God cannot, and will not, deliver His people!
Only believe the promise and you shall find it true! "I will deliver
him." Do you tell me that you are hauntedby strong temptation, that you
have been sorely beset with them of late–that your condition and
position are full of danger and jeopardy–that, being tempted by those
who have great influence over you, your steps have well near slipped?
Go to your knees! Cry to your God for strength to endure and might to
overcome, but be not dismayed with cowardly fear, for if you have set
your love on God, there stands this record, engraved as in eternal
brass, "I will deliver him." You shall have Grace equal to your time of
trial! You shall break the snares of the foe! Though you are shut in
like Samson in Gaza, and compassed about on all sides with temptations,
you shall wake up as a giant, refreshed and, by your strength in God,
pluck up the gates of the fortress and carry them away–post and bar
and all–and your soul shall be free!
Perhaps, however, you are the victim of another fear, you are afraid of
dying. Dying is at no time child's play, and he that treats the matter
lightly knows not what he does. But you, perhaps, are subject to
bondage through fear of death. Its dread accompaniments, pain of body,
gasping for breath. Its strange outlook, a vast eternity. Its near
approach, the rolling up of the curtain that hides from mortal view the
scenes that lie beyond–all these appall you! Oh, be not troubled in
mind! Have you set your love on Jesus, and does your heart cling to the
Father, God? Then on the bed of languishing you shall find gracious
succor and grateful relief. When your heart grows faint and your flesh
wastes away, your soul shall be strengthened and your spirit endowed
with fresh vigor! The noisome graveyard shall be fragrant with flowers
of Paradise and the dark sepulcher shall be lighted up with a blessed
hope! You shall be gently led, not roughly driven, through the dark
shades. And as with the tender notes of a requiem, sweet though solemn,
you shall hear this glad word, "I will deliver him: I will deliver
him." Delivered you shall be! The trial shall issue in triumph! Victim
of death, you shall be victor over it! As in a chariot of fire, you
shall be borne from the land of gloom to the land of joy! To your
Father and your God you shall rise, leading your captivity captive. But
ah, this is not a subject to stand and preach about–it is rather one
upon which to sit and think! So sit down, you who love the Savior, and
again, and again, and again delight yourself with this sure word of
Covenant promise which is given to you for your portion, "Because he
has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver Him"!
III. GOD'S PROMISE TO HIGH KNOWLEDGE.
It is set forth in the latter part of our text, "Because He has known
My name, I will set him on high." This expresses a sacred mystery, "He
has known My name." The Hebrews of old were not accustomed to use the
name of Jehovah, either in ordinary speech or in their writing. In
their sacred books they were commonly in the habit of putting in the
word, "Adonai," or, "Lord," instead of the word, "Jehovah," the name of
their God. To many of the heathen nations the distinctive name of the
one God was not even known! They only heard it alluded to by the
peculiar people who delighted to keep the name to themselves. Now there
is always a secret about that vital religion which comes to the
Believer not in word, only, but also in power, and in the Holy
Spirit–a secret which the natural man cannot discern. "The secret of
the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His
Covenant." The particular form of expression used in the text arises
from the fact that there were some in Israel who did not know the name
of God, while others did not know Him as the "I AM"–by that
superlative name which is His memorial unto all generations. See Exodus
3:13-15. And just so, there are today people taught of God, who know
the Lord, while the rest of mankind know Him not.
Let us try to give this matter a practical bearing.
"He has known My name." This means information. Have you, O my Soul, a
part in that high privilege of which our Great Intercessor spoke when
He said to His Father, "This is life eternal, that they might know You,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent"? Ask yourself,
my Hearer, the question. Are you initiated into the mystery of that
fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, which they enjoy
who walk in the Light of God? Do you know the living God? Do you know
that He is, and there is none beside Him? Do you know that He is
almighty and, therefore, do you bow down before Him? Have you seen that
He is merciful and, therefore, put your trust in Him? Have you
understood that He is just and, therefore, do you fear Him? Have your
eyes ever perceived the blended attributes that make up the crown of
Deity and compel you to worship Him in the beauty of holiness? Can you
discern how impartial He is in punishing sin and yet how gracious in
providing a Ransom for sinners? As for the ungodly world, it concerns
them not whether there is a God or not! And as to the excellence of His
Character, they do not regard it. But those whom He loves and whom He
will set on high, delight to know the name of God and to spell out its
mystic letters as they are painted on His works, unfolded in His ways
and revealed in His Word! They make it their study to know what can be
known of Him. God is the one Object of their life's pursuit. Oh, that I
knew where I might find Him, is their instinctive cry! And the Holy
Spirit is pleased to help them in their searches. Opinions,
conjectures, guesses at the Truths of God count for nothing. Do you
know for sure the name of the Lord, so that without hesitation you can
say, "I know whom I have believed"? "He has known My name." That means
trust He has relied upon it. He has come and depended upon the name of
God as his dwelling place, the home of his soul. Wherein is your
reliance, O Man, O Woman? On what do you depend for time or eternity?
Is it on your own strength, your works, or your merits? Is it on your
wit, your wealth, your rank? Ah, then these poor props will fail you
before long. But happy is that man who knows the name of God as his
confidence, his refuge, his high tower, his place of defense and
security!
To know God's name, likewise implies experience. I think many of you
could rise and say, "Glory be to God, I do know Him by the distresses
in which I have called upon Him, and the deliverances He has sent me!
In my hours of darkness I have found Him to be a never-failing light. I
have gone to His Mercy Seat in times of need, and then He has appeared
to me. I have enquired at His holy oracle, and He has answered me with
the Words of His mouth." Little can anyone know of God who has but
heard of Him with the hearing of the ears. Nothing is known of God till
we know Him by experience–nothing that is of value. All that the ear
learns of God from another's teaching is shallow and superficial. Your
heart must know God by its own deep communing. Let me ask you, dear
Hearer, how far you have gone in this school of instruction and
discipline? We shall ascertain who you are and where you are by the
answer you are able to give to this question. Tens of thousands of men
walk through this world and never meet with God–they do not seek Him
in their troubles. They may invoke His name, and cry out, "God help
me!" in a stress of grief or a surge of pain, but they forget Him when
their trials are over.
Oh, how different the children of God! "They that know Your name will
put their trust in You." Theirs is not occasional, but habitual drawing
near unto God! A good minister, sitting one day in the house of one of
his people, overheard a dialog with a beggar woman who knocked at the
door. The good housewife opened it and said to the poor creature, "Do
not trouble me, now. I do not intend to give you anything today." The
reply was, "Please don't say so, Ma'am. I am no upstart. You know me
very well. I am an old beggar at your door. I think I have begged of
you every week for the last seven years. Do not turn me away, kind
lady, I pray you." She was about to be sent off without any relief,
when the minister said, "Give her something for my sake. She is the
exact picture of me. Her plea with you is just what I am obliged to
plead with my God whenever I go to Him. 'Lord, give me Your mercy. I am
no new comer–I am an old beggar. I have been dependent upon Your
bounty, a pensioner upon Your charity these many, many years. Oh, cast
me not away!" The Christian's life is a life of dependence upon God. He
always has to go to Him. There is never an hour in which he could do
without his God. Now this is the man off whom the text speaks, "He has
known My name"– by long experience–he has come to rely upon My
goodness and My love."
Then, Beloved, you will observe the promise that is given to such, "I
will set him on high because he has known My name." "If He knows My
name, I taught it to him–My Grace made him know it. And now, having
given him so much Grace, I will give him more, and I will give him
glory at the last–I will set him on high." What does it mean, to be
set on high by God? It certainly implies rank The Christian is a man of
rank. How so? Because every man whom God sets on high, He acknowledges
as His child, makes him to be, "an heir of God, and a joint-heir with
Jesus Christ." There is much respect shown in the world to the young
man or the young woman whose good fortune it is to be heir of a noble
title and large estates. But what must it be to be "an heir of God," to
be "a joint-heir with Christ Jesus"? To be the son of a prince or the
son of a king is no small thing in the esteem of most men. To have the
blue blood in one's veins is thought to be honorable. To trace your
pedigree up to an emperor is a matter for pride. But the child of God,
mean as he may be reckoned on this base earth, though he should have
lived and died in an attic or a cellar, near the wind or near the damp
soil, is a prince of the blood imperial! He is of the royal family of
Heaven! He shall be a peer! He shall be, before long, in the court of
the Most High! The blood royal runs within his veins, only it is not
the royalty of a day, nor does it belong to the crown that is so
readily taken from the wearer's brow. The "crown that fades not away"
belongs to every man who has set his love upon God and who knows God's
name! He is set on high, for God has made him of a princely rank.
The promise to "set him on high" will further mean a place of security.
The Christian, when his faith is as it should be, is set so high above
his enemies that they cannot reach him. We have sometimes been on the
top of the Alps and seen a storm below in the valley. All has been calm
over our heads in the sunlight, while below there has been all the
tumult of the storm. God sets His servants on high, and often so high
that when others think they will surely disturb their peace and break
their comfort, they have been smiling and rejoicing in the clear
atmosphere of Heaven, undismayed by the tumult that has raged beneath
them! "The Lord is my Shepherd" they say, "I shall not want. He
prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies." It must have
been a glorious thing for those Frenchmen who went up in one of those
balloons that ascended from the besieged city of Paris, to look down on
the Prussian soldiers, vainly trying to reach them with their bullets,
but they were up too high! It must give one a sense of security to
think of the bullets coning half-way up, and then falling short. But
such is the position of the Christian by faith. He is on a rock so high
that all the gunshots of his enemies cannot reach him! He is perfectly
safe while he is near his God. "I will set him on high"–out of harm's
reach–"because he knows My name." It is rank and it is safety.
To be set on high, again, means happiness. He is the highest man, in
some respects, that is the happiest man, for he wears contentment
within his bosom. To bear within the soul a pure satisfaction with the
Divine will has more to make him wealthy than all the coffers of
Croesus! And such is the Christian. Commend me to the man whose sin is
forgiven, to whom a perfect righteousness is imputed, who is adopted
into the Divine family, from whose past all the blackness is blotted
out, whose present is full of contentment and whose future is radiant
with glory–commend me, I say, to such a man whom nothing can separate
from the love of Christ–a man to whom all things belong, whether
things present or things to come, a man to whom Christ, Himself,
belongs, and all the treasures of God–and say if such a man is not
blessed to all the intents of bliss, where are the blessed ones to be
found? If he is not ranked among the happy, and set aloft above all
others, where can happiness even be dreamed of? Verily the true
Christian has a portion of happiness allotted to him here below which
far excels all the voluptuous pleasures and intoxicating joys of sense!
He has a right to be cheerful, a duty to rejoice evermore! The
worldling boasts that he is happier than you are–it is a vain boast,
an empty vaunt. His mirth–what does it consists of but quips, cranks,
and wanton wiles? His joys but flash and crack and sparkle–like thorns
that burn for a few minutes, and then turn to ashes. Their fun will
never compare with your happiness! They may have more laughter, but you
have more liveliness. They dissipate their spirits, while you renovate
your strength! Gloom follows their glee, but your calm eventides
forestall bright tomorrows, and your present serenity is the sure
presage of a welcome eternity! Then "hold that fast which you have,
that no man take your crown."
"Because he has known My name, I will set him on high." Yes, Beloved,
He has raised us up and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus. Before long, so short the time with some of us, that it
may seem like tomorrow, we shall have our place among the angels. Among
the angels, did I say? Nearer the Throne of God than they! Where even
Gabriel cannot sit–at God's right hand, by His side who wears our
manhood on the Throne of God! There will He set us on high, where sits
the Crucified, His hands still bearing the scars, and His feet the nail
prints–He will set us there! Do not our hearts leap at the very
thought? Worthy to be cast into the lowest pit of Hell, and yet
Infinite Mercy promised us a seat of honor in Heaven! During the last
week two, three venerable Brothers and Sisters, ornaments of our
denomination, have passed away–some with whom it has been my habit to
take sweet counsel. There was one dear Brother, who, last week, was
hale and strong–a man who, though his hands were busy and his mind
occupied with the cares of this life, delighted to preach the Gospel
and was the pastor of a Church. When I heard of his departure, I seemed
to realize more vividly how close we are to the world to come. Very
soon, my Brothers and Sisters, you will hear of some in this
congregation that have passed the flood. We have dear names in our
recollection, the names of those dear to this congregation, whose
spirits I could imagine are with us whenever we gather at the Communion
Table. I can, without any immoderate stretch of fancy, picture them
often within these aisles. So much did they seem to be part and parcel
of ourselves, that when I miss them from their known place, I marvel
that they shall occupy it no longer. And before long some of you also
will be missing–the pastor, perhaps? Or the deacons, or the Elders, or
some of you whose old familiar faces greet us constantly. At length you
are gone! But oh, what a blessing if gone to swell the number of the
glorified, to complete the orchestra of Heaven, to add some fresh notes
to the everlasting music! The army there has gaps in its ranks– they,
without us, cannot be perfect. We shall soon go over to the majority.
We shall soon go from the militant to the triumphant, from those that
sit down here and weep over their imperfections, to those who sit up
there, see their Lord and rejoice that they are like He! Let us
anticipate the reunion, there, and celebrate the communion, here, full
of the joys of hope and the visions of that better land towards which
we journey as pilgrims! "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore
will I deliver him"–there is your promise for this life! "I will set
him on high because he has known My name"–there is your promise of the
life to come!
I wish, oh, how I wish, this promise belonged to all of you! Alas, that
some of you do not know His name! Neither do you set your love upon
Him. You must go away without this blessing! Do seek it. Do ask
forgiveness at the Savior's feet.
God is willing to hear prayer, and when He compels you to pray, He will
surely give the answer. "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you
shall be saved."
EXPOSITION BY C. H. SPURGEON: ISAIAH 42:1-6.
Verse 1. BeholddMy Servant, whom I uphold; My Elect, in whom My soul
delights: Ihaveput My Spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to
the Gentiles. Verily this prophecy is concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
Observe the title which He takes. He is called the Servant of God. The
Father calls Him, His Servant. Above all others is Christ the Servant
of the Highest deigning to become the Servant of servants, though He is
the King of kings. "Whom I uphold"– which may be read two ways.
According to some renderings, it should be, "Whom I lean upon"–as if
God leaned the full weight of His Glory upon Christ and gave over the
work of Grace into His hands–that is, if the passage is read
passively. If actively, it runs as in our text, "Whom I uphold." And
both are true. God leans upon Christ. Christ draws His strength from
God. They co-work, and mutual is the Glory."My Elect." That is first.
"My choice One," for there is none so choice as Christ. "My elected
One," for Christ is the Head of election. We are chosen in Him from
before the foundation of the world so that God specially calls Him, "My
Elect." "In whom My soul delights." The delight of the Father in the
Son is Infinite. He delighted in His Person. Now He delights in the
work which He has accomplished. The delight of the Father is in Christ,
and He delights in us because we are in Him. If, indeed, we are members
of Christ, He is well pleased with us for Christ's sake. "In whom My
soul delights." "I have put My Spirit upon Him." That was publicly done
when He was baptized in the Jordan. The Spirit without measure rests
and abides on Him, our Covenant Head. "He shall bring forth judgment to
the Gentiles." Rejoice, then, you Gentiles! You are no longer excluded.
At first the Word of God came to the Jews, only, but He has given the
Man, Christ Jesus, who has brought forth judgment to the Gentiles.
2-3. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in
the street A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax
shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. Jesus
was gentle, retiring, meek, quiet. His testimony was a very powerful
one, but not a noisy one. He sought no honor among men. He frequently
forbade the healed ones to tell of His miracles. He rather retire than
came into public notice. He was not contentious. He did not seek to put
out the Pharisees, who were like smoking flax. He was never hard
towards the tender ones, but always gentle as a nurse among her
children. Now it is very often found that where there is quietness and
meekness, there is, nevertheless, great firmness of purpose. Noise and
weakness go together, but quietness and strength are frequently
combined. So read the next verse.
4. He shall not fail.He shall not faint. So it may be.
4. Nor be discouraged till He has set judgment in the earth: and the
isles shall wait for His Law. This quiet, gentle Christ goes on pushing
on His empire and extending His dominion till these far-off islands of
the sea already know His power! And the day comes when the whole round
earth shall be obedient to His sway! O blessed Christ, how glad we are
to think that when we are discouraged, You are not, and when we fail
and faint, You do not. You hold on forever, like the sun who comes
forth from his chamber in the morning and stops not till he has run his
race.
5, 6. Thus says God the LORD, He that created the heavens and stretched
them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which comes out of
it, He that gives breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them
that walk therein: I the LORD have called You in righteousness, and
will hold Your hand, and will keep You, and give You for a Covenant of
the people, for a Light of the Gentiles. Thus the great God commissions
Christ! Thus He declares that the eternal power and Godhead will back
Him up till the Gentiles shall perceive His Light, and the people shall
be brought into Covenant with God.